Photographer's Note

Continuing with the reliefs at the eastern base of the slopes of Chichén Itzá's very large Ball Court, is the most famous and best preserved of the sculpture. It depicts the sacrifice through decapitation of a victim. To the right, one knee to the ground, is the player - winner or loser he has certainly lost; and blood bursts out of the neck in profusion, taking the form of six serpents, while one is depicted as a plant with flowers emerging from the jaw. Standing to the left of the victim is the executioner, brandishing a knife with one hand, while he holds the head of the decapitated man by the hair. Touching!